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Buddham Dhammam
  • Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on pregnant women Gabbhinivagga

The second training rule on trainee nuns 64. Dutiyasikkhamānasikkhāpada

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to trainee nuns who had trained in the six rules for two years, but who had not been approved by the Sangha. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpenti. The nuns said, Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—“Come, trainee nuns, find out about this,” “Give this,” “Bring this,” “There’s need for this,” or “Make this allowable.” “etha, sikkhamānā, imaṁ jānātha, imaṁ detha, imaṁ āharatha, iminā attho, imaṁ kappiyaṁ karothā”ti. But they replied, Tā evamāhaṁsu—“Venerables, we’re not trainee nuns. We’re nuns.” “na mayaṁ, ayye, sikkhamānā, bhikkhuniyo mayan”ti.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns give the full admission to trainee nuns who have trained for two years in the six rules, but who haven’t been approved by the Sangha?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?

“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… After rebuking them … vigarahitvā …pe… he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, approval is required for the full admission of a trainee nun who has trained for two years in the six rules. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dātuṁ.

And it should be given like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.

After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that trainee nun should arrange her upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the nuns. She should then squat on her heels, raise her joined palms, and say: Tāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—

‘Venerables, I, the trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, ask the Sangha for approval to be fully admitted.’ ‘ahaṁ, ayye, itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācāmī’ti.

And she should ask a second Dutiyampi yācitabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi yācitabbā.

A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha: Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—

‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. ‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. This trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained under Venerable so-and-so for two years in the six rules, is asking the Sangha for approval to be fully admitted. Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācati. If the Sangha is ready, it should give approval for the trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained for two years in the six rules, to be fully admitted. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dadeyya. This is the motion. Esā ñatti.

Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. This trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained under Venerable so-and-so for two years in the six rules, is asking the Sangha for approval to be fully admitted. Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācati. The Sangha gives approval for the trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained for two years in the six rules, to be fully admitted. Saṅgho itthannāmāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ deti. Any nun who approves of giving approval for the trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained for two years in the six rules, to be fully admitted should remain silent. Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya vuṭṭhānasammutiyā dānaṁ, sā tuṇhassa; Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.

The Sangha has given approval for the trainee nun so-and-so, who has trained for two years in the six rules, to be fully admitted. Dinnā saṅghena itthannāmāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya vuṭṭhānasammuti; The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’” khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.

Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe… “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Final ruling

‘If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years, but who has not been approved by the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

Definitions

A: Yā panāti
whoever … yā yādisā …pe…
Nun: bhikkhunīti
… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.
Two years: Dve vassānīti
two twelve-month periods. dve saṁvaccharāni.
Who has trained: Sikkhitasikkhā nāma
who has trained in the six rules. chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā.
Who has not been approved: Asammatā nāma
approval to be fully admitted has not been given though a legal procedure consisting of one motion and one announcement. ñattidutiyena kammena vuṭṭhānasammuti na dinnā hoti.
Gives the full admission: Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti
gives the full ordination. upasampādeyya. If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. “Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession, Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa. and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct. Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years and who has been approved by the Sangha; dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ saṅghena sammataṁ vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The fourth training rule is finished. Catutthasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.